13 Reasons To Legalize Marijuana – Are You In Support ?

Cannabis or more commonly referred to as “Marijuana” is a herb which exists since the dawn of human life. Weed, Pot, Ganja, Hemp, Grass, Dope, Roll, Joint, Spliff etc. are some of the other names it is associated with. There is evidence of inhalation of cannabis smoke from the 3rd millennium BCE, namely charred cannabis seeds found in a ritual brazier at an ancient burial site in present-day Romania. Cannabis became illegal during the early 20th century in the United States following Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 which effectively banned its use and sales. But, since then, people are becoming more and more aware that the ban had little or nothing to do with the plant and it was a blatant attempt to stop immigrants from entering the country. If we legalise marijuana it’s not gonna harm.

Thanks to the hippie movement in the 60s, more people became aware of the extensive benefits of the plant and thus, Marijuana began to legalise all around the world backed up by scientific research & hardcore facts. While some countries face issues to legalise the plant completely, baby steps have been taken to open the minds of people towards marijuana.

For all the people who still have doubts about the herb: here’s a list of 13 reasons to legalise Marijuana.

1. Marijuana does not cause death.

A total of 17,465 people died from overdosing on illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine in 2014, while 25,760 people died from overdosing on prescription drugs, including painkillers and tranquillizers like Valium, according to CDC figures.

Death from Marijuana overdose? ZERO! Legalise it already.

2. Marijuana’s active ingredient THC is less toxic than nicotine.

While chemically very similar, there are fundamental differences in the pharmacological properties between cannabis and tobacco smoke. Cannabis smoke contains cannabinoids (THC) whereas tobacco smoke contains nicotine. Available scientific data, that examines the carcinogenic properties of inhaling smoke and its biological consequences, suggests reasons why tobacco smoke, but not cannabis smoke, may result in lung cancer.

3. Medicinal Properties

Despite the notion many anti-cannabis people have that medical marijuana is nothing more than a lie, studies are starting to show marijuana’s potential in shrinking aggressive cancerous brain tumours. Furthermore, a recent American study found that treating epilepsy and other seizure disorders with CBD reduced seizures by 54%. Use of THC reduced spasticity in sufferers of multiple sclerosis by 30%. Cannabis may also reduce depression and relieve anxiety. While more research is needed to better determine how cannabis can help treat diseases or symptoms, there’s a reason why so many states in the USA have legalised medical marijuana. Please legalise it here too.

4. Keeping Marijuana Illegal is Expensive

According to the ACLU, in 2010, the U.S. spent more than $3.6 billion on enforcing cannabis prohibition. It’s estimated that the U.S. will spend more than $20 billion over six years on keeping cannabis illegal. Why spend so much on money on keeping it illegal? Legalise it.

5. Legalizing Cannabis Creates Jobs

Colorado created 10,000 new jobs in the legal cannabis industry, boosting the economy and lowering the unemployment rate to just 6%, making it one of the lowest in the nation.

If legalised marijuana will become the drug of choice over Cigarettes and alcohol. Which of course, lobbyists and industrialists don’t want.

8. Cannabis is 114 Times Less Toxic Than That Other Legal Substance, Alcohol.

In a comparative analysis of the risks of recreational drugs, alcohol was the top contender, while cannabis was considered the lowest risk, making cannabis literally 114 times safer to use than alcohol, a legal substance for adults ages 21 and up. Can we legalise it now?

9. Spirituality will rise.

No. I am not kidding. The spiritual aspects of cannabis are considered so profound in South Asia that many religious groups including Buddhists, Maths, Shaivites and Goddess Worshippers have incorporated it into meditation practices, as a means to stop the mind and enter into a state of profound stillness, also called Samadhi.

Cannabis is even mentioned in the Indian creation myth, where it is named as one of the five nectars of the gods and designated a “Reliever of Suffering.” In the original myth, the gods churn the Ocean of Milk in search of Amrita, the elixir of eternal life. One of the resulting nectars was cannabis. In the Vedas, cannabis is referred to as a “source of happiness.”

Donald Trump just became the President of the US. The world can use a little bit more of spirituality.

10. It’s not as addictive as you might think.

Cannabis usually causes no tolerance or withdrawal symptoms except in heavy users. In a survey of heavy users, 42.4% experienced withdrawal symptoms when they tried to quit marijuana, such as craving, irritability, boredom, anxiety and sleep disturbances. Cannabis withdrawal is less severe than withdrawal from alcohol.

11. Indian Stance on it.

Government-owned shops in holy cities like Varanasi and few other north Indian states sell cannabis in the form of bhang. Despite the high prevalent usage, cannabis remains illegal but is rarely enforced and treated as a low priority across India. Large tracts of cannabis grow unchecked in the wild in many parts of northern and southern India. Many states such as West Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar, Orissa, Tripura, and the North East have their own laws allowing cannabis, locally known as ganja. Isn’t that good news?!

12. Weed helps increase creativity.

Yep, that’s correct! Creativity is simply a brain operation that can be altered with the use of cannabis. The neurones in your brain process and pass along information in the form of neurotransmitters to the rest of the brain. Unlike other intoxicants like alcohol, marijuana possesses cannabinoids, which are naturally produced in the brain. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) also highly resembles Anandamide, which is natural transmitter to the neurones in your brain. After a neurone fire, there is a break in the transmission of thought to not overwhelm the mind and keep you calm and controlled. However, cannabis stops these breaks and allows the user to amplify their ideas and imagination. These new thought patterns lead to creative thinking and an escape from the ordinary.

Now we know what the creators of Pokemon were smoking. Amirite?

13. Global Usage

In 2013, between 128 and 232 million people used cannabis (2.7% to 4.9% of the global population between the ages of 15 and 65). Cannabis is by far the most widely used illicit substance. I am sure the figures are much higher by now since the partial legalisation all around the globe. So. maybe it’s time to stop demonising hemp and categorising it under Class-1 drugs like heroin, meth or cocaine. Let’s accept marijuana for what it is: A Herb.